Friday, July 30, 2010

Continuous Flow Hot Water

Continuous Flow, Instantaneous hot water systems

Are they better than Gas storage hot water systems?

How to choose a hot water heater

When buying a hot water heater your choice will be based on a number of reasons specific to you. These will be energy efficiency, environmental impact, the size of the hot water system and its location, amount of available hot water, installation costs, reliability, serviceability and safety. We will compare these issues one by one

Consider the Energy efficiency

Over a year, for an average household a 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater is likely to use 5%-10% more gas than a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system. However, a 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system does not require any electricity to run its computing and standby functions as does a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system.

Further, according to a paper delivered by Adjunct Professor Alan Pears at the National Plumbing Regulators Conference 2008, gas storage systems may be on par with Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system for gas consumption in houses using 150 to 250 litres of hot water per day.

The best way to determine how efficient the hot water heater will be is to ask the sales person to tell you the average yearly gas consumption of the various units they are selling to you. Don’t forget that a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system also uses electricity which is not included on the gas consumption data plate.

What is The Environmental impact?

This can be broken into two categories

The Carbon Footprint

Both the 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system and Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system have lower carbon footprints than an electric boosted solar hot water heater. The Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system will use 5 -10% less gas than a 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system. However, a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system requires electricity.

The Water Efficiency

The Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system has minimum flow requirements before it will start heating water. Some units range between 2 and 3L/minute. We have found that some of the more water efficient shower roses have to be changed or their restrictors removed so that the Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system will produce hot water. The minimum flow rates of a Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system means that you cannot be economical with water whilst doing things like shaving and rinsing dishes.

The 5 star Gas Storage hot water heater system will lose up to 2000 litres of water through its relief valve every year. This water is wasted if is not collected for the gardens.

The Gas Continuous Flow/Instantaneous hot water system will lose between 15,000 litres and 20,000 litres of cold water down the drain every year. This does not take into account the longer shower that also might be had.

You can learn more if you visit the websites listed below.

The full article about Continuous Flow Hot Water systems can be read at

If you need further information and /or assistance, 6 Star Hot Water & Plumbing will do its best and give you its best price when it supplies and installs any type of hot water system you want.

If you need more information about your gas hot water or immediate help in Canberra, Queanbeyan or Jerrabomberra just call 6161 9417 for Six Star Hot Water & Plumbing.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

About 6 Star Hot Water & plumbing, Canberra

We offer a genuine 24 hour plumbing repair service. We fix Blocked drains and all other types of plumbing problems. We can fix or replace any brand or type of hot water system immediately.

The owner of 6 Star hot water & plumbing, Canberra has worked in the plumbing industry since 1985. He has operated a plumbing repair service in Canberra, Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra since 1991.

We are not a franchise and we are a locally owned plumbing repair company. Over the years we have replaced or repaired many thousands of hot water systems. We have cleared many thousands of blocked sewerage and stormwater drains. We have found and fixed hundreds of water leaks. We have installed the plumbing for hundreds of kitchens. We have also fixed more than 10,000 dripping taps and more than 5000 leaking toilets.

We are members of The Master Plumber’s Drainer’s and Gasfitters Association of the ACT. Our proprietor Robert Edwards has been a member of the association in Canberra since 1994. He is also a former president of the association.

6 Star Hot Water & plumbing does not undertake any new building work. We offer a plumbing repair service and minor installation service only. This ensures that we always have an expert maintenance plumber available to help you at very short notice.

6 Star Hot Water and plumbing has vehicles that are set up for plumbing repairs and small installations. We carry most spare parts to save you time and money. We also have access to a vast array of warehoused spare parts for domestic and commercial plumbing repairs.

Not only do we cater for home owners, we cater for real estate agencies. 6 Star Hot Water & Plumbing has carried out thousands of plumbing repairs in rental properties in Canberra and Queanbeyan. We provide a prompt service that aims to keep both tenants and landlords satisfied.

6 Star Hot Water & Plumbing also undertake commercial hot water and plumbing repairs. We have experience in plumbing repairs for hotels, motels, factory sites, office blocks, carwashes, restaurants and retail shops. We work around the clock so other business can stay open.

If you are a home owner, real estate agency or commercial property manager and you need a plumber in Canberra or Queanbeyan who can come today to fix your hot water system, blocked drain, leaking tap, leaking pipes, leaking toilets and gas pipes call 6 Star Hot Water & plumbing Canberra. We can look after all of your plumbing problems now.

It’s easy to reach us. We are just one phone call away on 6161 9417

Saturday, July 17, 2010

How to deal with blocked drains in your sewerage system

First and most importantly, you need to know that your sewerage drainage system deals with all black water from toilets and grey water from showers, sinks, laundries and basins. Your sewerage will contain some remnants of blood, skin, faeces, fat, food, detergents, chemicals, hair, tampons and semen. Yes it is gross I know!

A blocked and overflowing sewerage drainage system can be very messy and pose a very serious health risk. The first symptoms of a blocked sewer may be gurgling in the sink when you are using the bath or toilet or visa versa. The water in the toilet may rise up, you may notice that the water sucks out of the toilet when you flush it. You may also notice that water is overflowing from one of the gully traps outside your house.

If you think that you have a blocked drain you need to deal with it straight away. The longer you leave it the worse the possible consequences.

Normally when any of the above occurs it is too late for a root pellet or caustic soda.

To clear the blocked drain you could try a large plunger or mop. You will have to pump the mop or plunger into the toilet or gully trap very fast a number of times to get the blockage moving.

If this doesn’t work, you could hire an electric eel or jet rodder and try to clear the blockage yourself. However, I would not advise it as these are very dangerous to an untrained operator. If you have read above you would now know that they are covered in the infectious remnants of other peoples blocked drains, They have also been known to break bones and cause horrific wounds.

The best and safest thing to do when you have a blocked drain is to call an experienced licensed plumber. If you call a plumber and you have used pellets or caustic soda let the plumber know. Caustic soda and pellets can cause serious burns to bare skin and the plumber may have to stick their arm in your drain.

When the plumber arrives ask them to check the whole drain for any other potential blockages with their electric eel or jet rodder. This will keep the drain unblocked for longer and can save you a considerable amount of money in the future, as you are only paying for one call-out and you are not paying the plumber to set up and pack up his drain cleaning machine more than once. Our plumbers at Star Hot Water & Plumbing do the whole drain all the time.

Most importantly, remember don’t leave a blocked drain for too long. The longer you leave the drain blocked the more expensive it will be to deal with.

If you need more information about your blocked drain or immediate help in Canberra, Queanbeyan or Jerrabomberra just call 6161 9417 for Six Star Hot Water & Plumbing.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

How To Fix Leaking toilets

Leaking toilets can waste thousands of litres of precious drinking water every year, and there are many causes.

There may be dirt in the mechanical parts of the toilets, the seals may have perished, a part may have broken or something foreign may be interfering with the mechanics of the toilet cistern.

When fixing a leaking toilet you may find that there is a combination of problems. In some cases you will have to replace 3 or 4 seals in the toilet cistern.

To determine what is wrong first observe what is happening inside the toilet cistern.

If water is continually overflowing out of the toilet cistern, over the central overflow pipe, into the pan this would likely mean a faulty inlet valve. Some inlet valve seals are repairable. However, you may need to install a new inlet valve.

If water is continually running out of the toilet cistern, but not over the central overflow pipe into the pan, this would likely mean a faulty outlet valve or outlet valve seal. Most outlet valve seals are replaceable. It is important that you get the right outlet valve seal, as the seals are not interchangeable with other brands.

Importantly, when undertaking any repairs follow the manufacturers guidelines. As you could end up with cross contamination of your toilet water and tap water.
While fixing your toilet, test each part to ensure that it is working independently of all of the other parts. Therefore, when you fix a leaking inlet valve, move on to check the operation of the outlet valve, and visa versa.

There are some older toilets that just cannot be fixed. These usually have brass internal mechanisms. These mechanisms are long-lasting. Some of the brass workings can be replaced. However the cost of replacing them can be considerably dearer than a new toilet cistern.

We also find that there are some very cheap imported brands that can be extremely difficult to get parts for. We find that the price of the parts is dearer than the whole toilet suite. So, try to avoid these altogether.

Other causes of leaking toilets may be perished flush pipe seals. These are the seals on the pipe between the cistern and the pan. When these leak they give the impression that the seal between the toilet pan and drain is leaking. In fact, it is water dripping out of one of the flush pipe seals onto the S-bend and then down to the floor seal. In most cases these seals are easily replaced. However, in some cases you may need to remove the cistern to change these seals.

If you need more information about your leaking toilets or need immediate help within Canberra, Queanbeyan or Jerrabomberra areas just call 6161 9417 for Six Star Hot Water & Plumbing.